ANTROSTOMUS VOCIFERUS — WHIP-POOR-WILL. 261 



Audubon, these few simple notes have a cheerful, pleasant 

 sound, while to others they are plaintive and sad. 



The bird reaches us from the south, where it passes the 

 winter, about the same time as the Swallow, or during the 

 month of April. It begins to breed in May, and it is at this 

 time that its notes are most commonly heard. In places 

 where they are plentiful, the chorus is far from being disa- 

 greeable, unless some one, more presuming than the rest, 

 should use your window sill as his favorite perch, and drive 

 slumber from your eyes with his oft repeated chant during 

 the whole night. 



The Whip Poor- Will builds no nest, but lays her two eggs 

 on the ground. The young are unshapely little things, 

 covered with yellowish down. Audubon says the parents 

 disgorge the food with which they feed their young. It 

 consists of ants, beetles, moths and other insects, which is 

 the only food of this species at all times. No vegatable 

 matter is ever eaten by them, and they must be recognized 

 as beneficial birds to the farmer in the fullest extent. 



This bird is more nocturnal in its habits than the Night 

 Hawk, as it is seldom seen, even in cloudy weather, during 

 the day. When resting, it always sits lengthwise of the 

 branch, never across, and during the day will be found in 

 dense thickets, seated on the ground or a log. When dis- 

 turbed, it flies off for a short distance and settles. Both 

 sexes are much attached to the young, and assist in the labor 

 of incubation and feeding. In the fall they retire southward, 

 traveling during the night. 



The color of the Whip-Poor- Will, like that of the rest of 

 its family, is rather difficult to describe, owing to the great 

 mingling of shades. The upper parts are brownish grey, 

 minutely sprinkled and streaked with brownish black; 

 wings dark brown, and barred with spots of reddish brown. 

 The tail has three feathers on each side that are white on 

 the terminal half, the four central the same cojor as the 



